Breast screening in Canada, 2023-24
Recruitment
Participants are recruited into breast screening programs using a variety of strategies. Participants can be referred to screening by a physician in all jurisdictions, and self-referrals are accepted in most jurisdictions.
Other recruitment strategies used are letters of invitation, advertising and social media, and referrals from nurse practitioners or other healthcare providers.
Breast screening referral strategies
| P/T | Physician referral | Self-referral | Initial letter of invitation | Promotional content (e.g., social media, advertisement) | Referral from nurse practitioner | Referral through other screening programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| NT | ✓ | ✓* | ||||
| NU | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| BC^ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| AB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Colorectal and breast have a combined invitation letter. |
| SK~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| MB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| ON | ✓ | ✓** | ✓ | ✓‡ | ✓ | |
| QC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| NB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓*** | ||
| PE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| NL | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
*NT: Yellowknife’s BSP accepts self-referrals (50–74) for persons living within the Yellowknife catchment area. Hay River’s BSP accepts self-referrals (50–74) for persons living in Hay River catchment with a designated PCP. All other locations served require a referral from PCP to enter into the BSP.
^BC: Referrals also accepted from walk-in-clinic physicians and naturopaths.
~SK: Use of Saskatchewan Cancer Agency social media and print information, as well as awareness month campaigns. Leveraging targeted town websites, social media, and newspapers to share mobile visits with catchment communities.
**ON: Starting in fall 2024, the Ontario Breast Screening Program will be expanded to include people ages 40 to 49. Until the expansion goes live, people ages 40-49 are able to access breast cancer screening outside of the OBSP with a referral from a healthcare provider.
‡ON: Includes program-led and Ministry of Health-led promotional content (e.g., posters, postcards, social media posts).
***NS: Healthcare provider recommendation. Social/digital media advertisement for breast screening targeted to mobile breast screening availability and locations.